Leicester vs Chelsea press conference: Potter on James and Sterling injury doubts and when Kante could return
10 MAR 2023
Speaking ahead of tomorrow's Premier League fixture against Leicester City, Graham Potter has revealed three members of his squad have been ruled out by injury, but there was good news on what could be the imminent return of N'Golo Kante.
The Blues travel to the King Power Stadium tomorrow and Graham Potter provided the usual update on the latest injury news within his squad, and there was bad news with three more players seemingly ruled out of this fixture.
However, there were more promising updates on the recoveries of N'Golo Kante and Mason Mount, while our head coach highlighted the fact those injuries could provide opportunities for others, including Mykhailo Mudryk and Marc Cucurella.
Potter revealed the unfortunate news that Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Reece James and Raheem Sterling have all had issues this week, making it unlikely they will feature at the King Power Stadium, although suggested that could provide an opportunity for Mykhailo Mudryk.
'Reece has been ill so hasn’t trained today, so he won’t make the game tomorrow,' said our head coach. 'Raheem had a little feeling in his hamstring, more tightness than anything, so he’s looking doubtful for tomorrow as well. Aubameyang’s had a slight problem with his back, so again he’s looking like he’ll miss the game. Apart from that everybody’s okay.
'Mykhailo certainly comes into the equation. He’s a player we believe in a lot, he’s adapting to the new situation. When he arrived he was at the start of a pre-season campaign really, so to just come in and hit the Premier League running is not so easy to do. But day by day and week by week he’s getting stronger and stronger, so he will be in the squad tomorrow and there’s a chance that he could play.'
N'Golo Kante is yet to play under Potter, having been unavailable since suffering a hamstring injury in our home game against Tottenham back in August, but revealed the Frenchman is now close to a return.
He also discussed the chances of him and Thiago Silva coming straight back into the line-up once they have recovered, and what that would mean for other players who have had to wait patiently for their chance in the team.
'N'Golo won’t be in the squad, he still needs some more time to build up. We’re aiming maybe towards the game against Everton, but unfortunately not for tomorrow.
'The most important thing for N’Golo and Thiago is to get them back injury free and then the more good players we have the better. Then it’s football deciding, in terms of performances and results. That’s where we’re at, obviously on the back of two good results, but things change, opportunities arise and we just have to keep working like that.
'You just need to do the maths, only 11 can play and we’ve got more than 11. So inevitably the players missing out are not going to be happy, there’s no point denying that. That’s not to say they haven’t been really professional, really supportive of the team and there’s always injuries, there’s always things that happen.
'You look at the situation for Marc Cucurella, for example. He wasn’t in the squad and then came in against Dortmund and was fantastic, played a really good game and contributed to us winning. The players know that they just need to be ready, keep fighting and make sure when their chance arrives they’re in a good position to play, that’s how football works.'
Mason Mount is another player who has been missing recently, having been forced to sit out our last two matches due to injury. Potter provided the latest on Mount's recovery and his thoughts on negotiations over a new contract between the player and club.
'He’s the same as everybody else, he wants to play. At the moment he’s just suffering with a slight injury so he probably needs a little bit more time before he’s available properly. But he’s happy around the place, he wants to help the team. That’s absolutely normal with Mason, there’s no change in that. He wants to help, wants to the team to win, wants to get injury free and play football.
'Ultimately the contract is between the club and Mason, but I’ve spoken to him numerous times about his situation and football and life generally. My feelings for Mason are clear, I think he’s a fantastic person but sometimes these things happen. They’re just complicated and it’s best that I speak little about it and let them get on with it in deciding what’s right for both parties.
'I’m not naive, I know it’s an important time for him, it’s an important contract and these things have to be right for him and his family and it’s important that he makes the decision on that basis.'
== Leicester vs Chelsea injury list ==
Christian Pulisic returned from injury against Borussia Dortmund in midweek, but Armando Broja remains unavailable as he continues to work on his rehabilitation and Thiago Silva is also ruled out. This game is likely too soon for Edouard Mendy to make his return too.
Leicester don't expect Youri Tielemans, Victor Kristiansen or former Chelsea full-back Ryan Bertrand to be back in action until the start of next month, while James Justin is ruled out for the rest of the season. However, both Harvey Barnes and Jonny Evans are back in training with a chance of featuring on Saturday.
== Leicester vs Chelsea suspension ==
There are no suspensions for either side in this match.
Players who accumulate 10 yellow cards in Premier League matches up to and including our 32nd fixture will serve a two-match suspension in the competition.
== Premier League booking list ==
C. Gallagher 5, Havertz 4, Koulibaly 4, Kovacic 4, Mount 4, Azpilicueta 3, T. Chalobah 3, R. James 3, R. Sterling 3, Cucurella 2, Aubameyang 1, Badiashile 1, Chilwell 1, W. Fofana 1, L. Hall 1, Kepa 1, Loftus-Cheek 1, E. Mendy 1, Pulisic 1, Thiago Silva 1, Ziyech 1.
== Leicester vs Chelsea referee and VAR ==
Referee: Andre Marriner
VAR: Graham Scott
Andre Marriner is the official for a Chelsea game for the first time in just over a year, since he took charge of our 4-0 win at Burnley.
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Potter on the back-three fit, shielding Cucurella and what courageous Kovacic brings
10 MAR 2023
Graham Potter opted for a three-man defence against Leeds last weekend, and having now seen that pay off in the form of consecutive clean sheets and back-to-back victories, the head coach has explained why he made that decision.
You have to rewind to the Newcastle away fixture on the eve of the World Cup to find the last time we had deployed a back three prior to the past seven days.
In the interim the head coach, who admitted the weight has been lifted off his shoulders in some ways after those two wins, preferred a 4-2-3-1 shape. For now, though, he looks set to continue with what served us so well against Leeds and Borussia Dortmund.
‘Even in those games we’ve had different back threes, with Benoit [Badiashile] playing against Leeds and Marc [Cucurella] coming in against Dortmund,’ he pointed out today.
‘Thiago getting injured against Tottenham meant we had to adjust things, and at the moment it’s suiting us well.
‘As much as everyone is focusing on the other end and rightly so, because we haven’t scored as many goals as we would like, defensively we are up there with one of the best teams in the league. That’s something to be positive about, but clearly we need to get the other bit right as well. Consistency helps.’
Potter has a big decision in defence tomorrow. Does he stick with Cucurella, who was so impressive against Dortmund, or revert to Benoit Badiashile, who has scarcely put a foot wrong since arriving from Monaco?
Cucurella hasn’t played in the league since the draw at West Ham a month ago, and Potter acknowledged it hasn’t always been easy for the Spaniard this season.
‘It got a little bit tricky, but at the same time we tried to shield him and wait for the right time to put him in.
‘I know how good he is. With Benoit out the game in the Champions League was a good opportunity to show his quality, and I’m delighted he did.’
Another player who impressed against Dortmund was Mateo Kovacic, himself only returning to the team after a spell out with injury and illness. Potter was asked what he brings to the team.
‘He’s been the captain in both games, that tells you how influential he is. He’s a fantastic guy, I really like him. Determined, character, courage to take the ball in tight situations, he’s fantastic.
‘You can see what he’s achieved in his career for his national team, and for us at Chelsea. He’s an important player for us.’
Young supporter Charlie Butcher is a guest of ours at Cobham today, in partnership with Make-A-Wish Foundation, and the final question of Potter’s press conference went to him. He asked Potter what he said to his team to motivate them at half-time.
‘Good question! It depends how the game is going, whether they need a kick up the backside or do they just need information, but essentially it is to try to help them, to work out what we’ve done quite well in the game and what we need to improve.
‘If we can improve, how we can improve, and try and convince them that if we do that, we can win the game. That’s a summary.’
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以下內容出自 football.london：
Every word Graham Potter said on Leicester, Chelsea future, James, Silva, Kante, Mount, Mudryk
By Adam Newson, Chief Chelsea correspondent - UPDATED 14:45, 10 MAR 2023
．What did the chairman, Todd Boehly, say to you after Tuesday’s win? Can you give us some insight into what he said?
"No, not really. He is the chairman and I’ve been doing this job [coaching] for 12 years and have spoken to the chairman pretty much every week. It’s strange you keep asking me whether I speak to the chairman or not."
．Are you looking for goals to bring more confidence?
"Goals and wins bring confidence, that is obvious. Then it's how we get them. I'm not going to complain however they come because the results have been difficult to deal with. The best way is to play well, attack well, do the things you want to do and they result in you creating chances, scoring goals, and winning. That's the best thing. It takes a bit of time but in the meantime, if we get lucky, I'm happy with that as well."
．Your away form isn't great. Is tomorrow's game a big opportunity for you?
"We have to play well. I think Leicester's results are worse than their performances. They've been a bit unfortunate as well I think. They are suffering from not the best of starts, I'm sure Brendan [Rodgers] will agree with that. But they've rallied as well and still have some really good players. I have huge respect for what Brendan has done there and he is a top coach and top person. It'll be a tough game."
．Has the weight been lifted off your shoulders a bit after two wins?
"Yes, in some ways. It’s not something I get too bogged down with. It’s always nicer to win, everything feels a bit better, it feels like you have taken a step forward. But I am not getting carried away. It is just two wins. I have to focus on Leicester. The boys have been in a good place, a good spirit. They have stuck together through a bad time which is good. There is a lot to say about that but we have to start again against Leicester."
．How important was the win over Dortmund for your bond with supporters?
"I've said before the supporters have been really fair. They want the team to do well and results-wise we haven’t done that well. So you understand the criticism and understand it’s hard to get behind something when the results aren’t great. So it’s our job to produce games and results and I think the performance was a positive one. I think they’ve appreciated that and when that is the case, they get behind the team. I have nothing to say about how we’ve been treated by supporters. They’ve been fantastic."
．Romelu Lukaku, there's been talk of another loan spell for him at Inter Milan next season?
"Well, that's nothing for me to think about at the moment. He is there and he is playing. I think those discussions and conversations will be made at the end of the season."
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